Monitoring harvesting by time series of Sentinel-1 SAR data

Abstract

Algorithm for determining crop harvesting dates based on time series of coherence and backscattering coefficient (σ0) derived from Sentinel-1 single look complex (SLC) synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images is proposed. The algorithm allows the ability to monitor harvesting over large areas without having to install additional sensors on agricultural machinery. Coherence between SAR images allows the ability to track changes in field-scatterers configuration resulting from agricultural work. The proposed algorithm finds a step-like increase in coherence that occurs after the harvesting and is related to the conversion of a field into a bare soil area. An additional check of potential harvest dates is carried out by threshold values of σ0 depending on vegetation height. The algorithm is adapted for the monitoring of non-homogeneous fields with traces of erosion and insertions of fallow land. The algorithm was tested on agricultural fields located in the north of Kazakhstan. The obtained accuracy (mean absolute error = 6.5 days) of determining the dates of harvesting can be deemed satisfactory. This accuracy can be increased by shortening the interval between observations from 12 to 6 days when using data from both Sentinel-1 satellites.